Waste processing system

ABSTRACT

A waste processing system that utilizes a bin type collecting device having multiple processing elements located around the periphery thereof. Waste material loaded into the bin is first concentrated at the center and then systematically fed outward to the various processing elements to provide an arrangement that effectively utilizes a minimum amount of space, is economical to install, efficient to operate, and provides continuous operation.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,861,333 Krumm Jan. 21, 1975 [5 WASTE PROCESSING SYSTEM 2,000,296 5/1935 OSbOlrl 110/8 2,046,112 6/1936 Felton, Jr 1111/23 175] Invelltor- Eugene Kmmm wellbv'llci 3,431,872 3/1969 Stefanyk 110/7 [73] Assignee: The Air Preheater Company, Inc.,

Wellsville, NY. Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Filed Dec 12 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWayne H. Lung [21] Appl. No.: 424,245 [57] ABSTRACT A waste processing system that utilizes a bin type col- 52 us. c1 110/8 R, 110/8 P, 110/165 R lecting device having multiple processing elements 51 Int. Cl. F23g 5/00 cared around the P p y thereof Waste material [53 Fi f Search 110 7 R g R, 13 R 14 loaded into the bin is first concentrated at the center 110/15 165 R and then systematically fed outward to the various processing elements to provide an arrangement that [5 References Ci effectively utilizes a minimum amount of space, is eco- UNITED STATES PATENTS nomical to install, efficient to operate, and provides 1,460,565 7/1923 Balmer Continuous operation 1,974,250 9/1934 Osborn 110/14 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waste processing system that utilizes multiple waste processing elements located around the periphery of a single waste collection area to provide apparatus that may be operated continuously with great economy of assembly and efficiency of operation.

2. Description of Prior Art Continuous operation of incinerating or other waste processing equipment has long been a problem because the amount of material being handled is continuously changing, the quality of waste material to be burned is not consistent, the time required to incinerate may vary, and the temperature is continuously high so that individual apparatus must be allowed to cool between periods of operation whereby it may be properly serviced and maintained.

Various arrangements for processing equipment that take these factors into consideration have been developed, but each fails to provide an entirely successful apparatus. Thus U.S. Pat. No. 2,698,587 discloses a device having a pit of large capacity into which waste may be nearly continuously dumped. A conveyor moves the waste into an incinerator at a rate compatible with its rate of incineration. In US. Pat. No. 3,199,475 there is disclosed an arrangement having multiple garbage pits into which a surplus of garbage may be dumped. An incinerator is movable between pits to burn the organic matter in any predetermined pit without interfering with that in another nearby pit.

Thus various arrangements have been made whereby garbage or trash may be collected and incinerated, and the waste material resulting therefrom may be removed in a manner that permits nearly continuous incineration. However, the arrangements known are generally expensive to build and to operate, they require excessive personnel to operate, and they require excessive space for installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The system disclosed by this invention is exceptionally effective in that it provides an efficient arrangement of apparatus that requires a minimum amount of space and a minimum number of attendants to maintain continuous operation that effectively eliminates a quantity of waste material.

The system basically includes a central loading bin with a plurality of independent incinerators located around its outer periphery. A single ash removal system has been devised whereby residual matter may be readily removed from the incinerators without interfering with the operation thereof. The principal objective of the invention is therefore to provide an incinerator arrangement that carries out the above functions in a most efficient manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation is section of a waste disposal system involving the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device as seen from 3 3 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 in a slightly different position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, I provide a waste collecting bin 12 with an opening at the top fed by a conveyor 14 that receives a load of waste material from a pit 16 into which said material is dumped from conventional collecting means such as a truck 18. The waste material drops into the bin 12 and is continuously moved centrally by a series of elongate drag means 20 that are rotated about a base 23 in accordance with equipment developed by Atlas Systems, Inc. As the material collects at the center of bin 12 it falls through a central opening 22 and is supplied to a series of radially oriented conveyors 24 that may be selectively operated by suitable controls to motors 25 to move the material outwards to the inlets 26 for the incinerators 28 or other processing equipment that is spaced about the periphery of bin 12.

Each incinerator is provided with a burner 32 having a suitable source of fuel and air whereby the waste material being supplied thereto may be completely incinerated in accordance with standard practice as illustrated by US. Pat. No. 3,595,181.

A conveyor system 34 lies under each incinerator 28 to interconnect it with a common ash depository 36 whereby ash and other residual matter may be continuously discharged from the several incinerators and then moved by truck 42 or other carrier to a point of final disposal. The conveyor system 34 is shown only schematically but it may obviously be made to comprise any standard system such as one having a series of moving drag links, one having a system of gravity feed or one having a moving air stream in accordance with standard practice.

It is evident that various other changes may be made in the location and arrangement of the several incinerators or conveying means without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material comprising in combination a central storage bin for collecting waste material therein, means for loading a quantity of waste material into said storage bin, a plurality of independent waste processing modules positioned about the periphery of said storage bin, means that concentrates the waste material inward at the central portion of the storage bin, and conveying means moving the waste material from the storage bin outward to each of said modules.

2. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 1 including a circular opening at the center of the storage bin intermediate the central portion of the storage bin and the conveying means that moves the waste material to the waste processing modules on the periphery thereof.

3. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 1 wherein the central storage bin is formed with a substantially round configuration wherein the conveying means for supplying the waste material to the several processing modules extend radially outward from the central portion of the storage bin to said processing modules.

4. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 1 including an ash collection bin, and means conveying residual matter from each processing module to the ash collection bin.

5. Apparatus for the continuous processing waste material as defined in claim 4 wherein the means conveying residual matter from the processing modules is concentrically outside the central storage bin for waste material and subjacent the waste processing modules whereby the residual matter may be removed from the processing modules without interfering with the supply of waste material thereto.

6. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 5 wherein the means that concentrates the waste material at the central portion of the collection bin comprises a rotatable drive means that encircles the periphery of the central storage bin, and means for concentrating the waste material in the central portion of the storage bin comprising a drag connected to said rotatable drive.

7. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 6 wherein the rotatable drag means comprises a plurality of elongate probes that are rotated about the periphery of the storage bin.

8. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 7 wherein the plurality of elongate probes are evenly spaced about the periphery of the storage bin and extend essentially radially inward toward the circular opening at the center of the storage bin.

9. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 8 wherein the elongate probes comprise a single flexible member secured at their radial outer ends to the rotatable drive means. 

1. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material comprising in combination a central storage bin for collecting waste material therein, means for loading a quantity of waste material into said storage bin, a plurality of independent waste processing modules positioned about the periphery of said storage bin, means that concentrates the waste material inward at the central portion of the storage bin, and conveying means moving the waste material from the storage bin outward to each of said modules.
 2. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 1 including a circular opening at the center of the storage bin intermediate the central portion of the storage bin and the conveying means that moves the waste material to the waste processing modules on the periphery thereof.
 3. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 1 wherein the central storage bin is formed with a substantially round configuration wherein the conveying means for supplying the waste material to the several processing modules extend radially outward from the central portion of the storage bin to said processing modules.
 4. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 1 including an ash collection bin, and means conveying residual matter from each processing module to the ash collection bin.
 5. Apparatus for the continuous processing waste material as defined in claim 4 wherein the means conveying residual matter from the processing modules is concentrically outside the central storage bin for waste material and subjacent the waste prOcessing modules whereby the residual matter may be removed from the processing modules without interfering with the supply of waste material thereto.
 6. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 5 wherein the means that concentrates the waste material at the central portion of the collection bin comprises a rotatable drive means that encircles the periphery of the central storage bin, and means for concentrating the waste material in the central portion of the storage bin comprising a drag connected to said rotatable drive.
 7. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 6 wherein the rotatable drag means comprises a plurality of elongate probes that are rotated about the periphery of the storage bin.
 8. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 7 wherein the plurality of elongate probes are evenly spaced about the periphery of the storage bin and extend essentially radially inward toward the circular opening at the center of the storage bin.
 9. Apparatus for the continuous processing of waste material as defined in claim 8 wherein the elongate probes comprise a single flexible member secured at their radial outer ends to the rotatable drive means. 